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Singer-Songwriter Ali McGuirk Announces New Album ‘Watertop,’ Out September 12

Eric Alper
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Singer-Songwriter Ali McGuirk Announces New Album ‘Watertop,’ Out September 12

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Ali McGuirk  has announced that her highly-anticipated third album, Watertop will be released September 12th on Signature Sounds. Watertop is available for pre-save and pre-order here (and vinyl via Bandcamp).Her first release since the 2022 album Til It’s Gone, Watertop elevates McGuirk’s signature soulful and smoldering sound to new heights—this time, the production is richer, and the message is unflinching. McGuirk recently realized how much her voice as an artist has evolved while writing and arranging the new album. “I’m actually delivering a message, not necessarily processing my feelings, but delivering my thoughts on the matter. That felt like a different role to embody as a songwriter.” 

Today, McGuirk shares the album’s second single, “More Than Enough.” Joined by Dwight Ritscher and Nicole Nelson of Dwight & Nicole, the track is a tender song about the highs of finding your person. Grounded by the creative use of an organ and D’Vibes keys, the song’s percussion literally shimmers. Listen HERE.

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment that led to the freedom in McGuirk’s songwriting on Watertop. Perhaps it was when she began treating social activism—and her care for others—as a spiritual practice. This transformation gave Watertop its raison d’etre, which comes at you quickly with the opening track, “Love Goes First.” 

On Watertop, McGuirk takes a magnifying glass to the complexities of human and societal value, unraveling the meanings of care, empathy, love, and even greed. Sonically, she leans into creating experimental soundscapes filled with her soulful, smoldering sound and aims right for the heart with her songwriting. Altogether, the songs are a microscopic look at our societal values. McGuirk shies away from nothing, exploring the meaning of things like God, empathy, love, and greed.  

Blending classic soul power with a folk songwriter lyricism, New England’s Ali McGuirk has the rare ability to silence a room with just a few words of a song. With a voice that is raw and sultry and a style rooted in improvisation, her sets are a hypnotic and intimate journey. More new music is expected from Ali in 2025.

On her 2022 Signature Sounds debut ’Til It’s Gone, McGuirk delivered a sublime set of songs that pairs her trademark soul sound with rootsy turns and raw rock ‘n’ roll detours. The album landed on the Boston Globe’s Top 50 Albums list for 2022. Consequence of Sound raved, “‘All Back’ feels like it could exist somewhere outside of space and time– it could be on a record in the background of a party in a 1970s bungalow, or it could be on your Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify. Either way, it’s a great listen.”

McGuirk co-produced ‘Til It’s Gone with Jonah Tolchin (a star singer-songwriter in his own right) and a set of session legends: Little Feat guitarist/mandolinist Fred Tackett, organist Larry Goldings (James Taylor, Norah Jones), singer Valerie Pinkston (Ray Charles, Luther Vandross), percussionist Lenny Castro (Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder). They provided the astounding chops, but the true magic of the album comes from McGuirk’s singular voice as both singer and songwriter. The nine tracks run from intimate introspection to wider meditations on oppression and justice, from tough r&b and tender soul to big rock guitar and twangy folk. And McGuirk’s voice – bold, buttery, spellbinding – carries each song to the next til they’re gone.

McGuirk currently divides her time between touring North America and Europe and crafting new compositions in her lakeside Vermont cottage . She has performed spellbinding sets at Boston Calling, Merlefest, Americanafest, and NPR’s Mountain Stage. 

Watertop Tracklist:

  1. Love Goes First
  2. Graveyard
  3. More Than Enough (Ft. Dwight & Nicole)
  4. Where Does All The $ Come From?
  5. Exorcist
  6. When I See You
  7. Wedding Song
  8. Call It What You Want

Ali McGuirk Tour Dates:

JUN 6 FRI        Lizard Lounge  Cambridge, MA

JUN 7 SAT       Radio Bean   Burlington, VT

JUN 14 SAT     Timber House  Kings County, NY

JUN 19 THU    Groove  New York, NY

JUN 20 FRI      Green River Festival 2025   Greenfield, MA

JUN 21 SAT     The Parlour   Providence, RI

JUL 16 WED    Middlebury Festival On The Green   Middlebury, VT

SEP 6 SAT       Henryfest 2025   Walnut Hill, ME

Puddles Pity Party Pays Tribute to Paul Reubens With Heartfelt Theme Song Cover

Eric Alper
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Puddles Pity Party Pays Tribute to Paul Reubens With Heartfelt Theme Song Cover

If you didn’t expect to cry over a clown singing the Pee-wee’s Playhouse theme song, surprise! Puddles Pity Party takes Paul Reubens’ legacy and turns it into pure, helium-filled heartbreak. This one’s for the big top in the sky.











National Music Centre Unveils Updated Speak Up! Exhibition Honouring Indigenous Trailblazers

Eric Alper
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National Music Centre Unveils Updated Speak Up! Exhibition Honouring Indigenous Trailblazers

The National Music Centre (NMC) is proud to unveil a refreshed iteration of its award-winning Speak Up! exhibition, opening June 18 at Studio Bell. This year’s update honours a new wave of inspiring Indigenous artists and changemakers whose voices and stories continue to resonate. In celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, NMC will also welcome the public with free admission and a special live event featuring one of the exhibition’s newest honourees.

The evolving Speak Up! exhibition, supported by TD Bank Group, now features acclaimed “Inuindie” pop artist Beatrice Deer from Quaqtaq, Nunavik, and the acclaimed Inland Tlingit dance group Dakhká Khwáan Dancers based in Whitehorse, Yukon, renowned for their focus on reclaiming and promoting their languages and traditions through the art of singing, drumming, dancing and storytelling. The exhibition also pays tribute to the enduring legacies of influential Indigenous trailblazers: Ray St. Germain, a Métis country music legend and Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, affectionately known as “Winnipeg’s Elvis”; pioneering country star Harry Rusk, the first Indigenous artist to perform on the Grand Ole Opry stage in Nashville; and Inuk artist Kelly Fraser, who championed Inuit culture with her music, blending Inuktitut and English languages with contemporary pop and hip hop.

Visitors can discover newly added artifacts, including Ray St. Germain’s personalized six-string Ovation guitar and a modernized “arnauti,” or traditional Inuit women’s garment, designed and made by Beatrice Deer, along with a fully updated gallery experience. The exhibition also continues to showcase powerful contributions from past featured artists, including Drezus, Tom Jackson, Fawn Wood, Jeremy Dutcher, and Northern Cree.

On June 21, David McLeod, curator of the National Music Centre’s Speak Up! exhibition, will host a free live event, featuring a performance by Beatrice Deer. Melding indie rock, modern folk, and traditional throat singing, and performing in Inuktitut, English, and French, Deer’s music bridges worlds – cultural, musical, and spiritual. Opening the program, Blackfoot traditional singer Norvin Eagle Speaker will take the stage alongside grass dancer Takota Eagle Speaker, and fancy dancer Miracle Eagle Speaker. The artists will perform two sets at 10:45 am and 12:45 pm.

“What an honour it is to be part of the Speak Up! exhibition,” said Beatrice Deer. “This is an opportunity to share that we Inuit are still blessed to speak our language, tell our stories, and sing our songs. To show that we still live our hunter-gatherer lifestyle to this day, and to share those stories with the world. I am honoured that I get to represent my people in Speak Up!”

Since its launch in 2019, the Speak Up! exhibition has celebrated 32 influential Indigenous artists from across Canada who have made a lasting impact on culture through music. Through powerful storytelling, immersive audio, and personal artifacts, Speak Up! invites visitors to explore how these artists are using their voices to spark dialogue, inspire change, and share what it means to be First Nations, Métis, and Inuit in Canada.

“This year’s Speak Up! exhibition is not only a celebration of Indigenous excellence in music, but also a heartfelt tribute to the legacies of trailblazing artists who are no longer with us,” said David McLeod (member of the Pine Creek First Nation), Curator of Speak Up! and NMC Board Member and Chair of NMC’s National Indigenous Programming Advisory Committee. “Artists like Ray St. Germain, Harry Rusk, and Kelly Fraser utilized their artistic platforms on a national scale to elevate Indigenous stories, culture, and history, ultimately sparking social change. Their inspirational talents and legacies continue to resonate today, and we are thrilled to ensure their contributions are celebrated, and will also inspire new generations.”

The Speak Up! exhibition is supported by TD Bank Group, who deepened its commitment to NMC’s Indigenous programming in 2022 through the OHSOTO’KINO initiative. Named after a Blackfoot phrase meaning “to recognize a voice of,” OHSOTO’KINO is guided by NMC’s Indigenous Programming Advisory Committee and plays a central role in shaping exhibitions and programs at Studio Bell. The initiative supports multiple pillars: the creation of new music in NMC’s recording studios, artist development through a music incubator, the annually refreshed Speak Up! exhibition, and original digital content on NMC’s Amplify platform at amplify.nmc.ca.

Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, will be open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day, and admission will be free for everyone. Learn more at studiobell.ca/whats-on. The updated iteration of the Speak Up! exhibition will open on June 18 and run until June of 2026.

The National Music Centre (NMC) has a mission to amplify the love, sharing, and understanding of music. It is preserving and celebrating Canada’s music story inside its home at Studio Bell in the heart of the East Village in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) on Treaty 7 territory. NMC is the home to four Canadian music halls of fame, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Quebec’s ADISQ Hall of Fame. Featuring musical instruments, artifacts, recording equipment, and memorabilia, the NMC Collection spans over 450 years of music history and innovation. A registered charity with programs that include exhibitions, artist development, performance, and education, NMC is inspiring a new generation of music lovers. For more information about NMC’s onsite activities, please visit studiobell.ca. To check out the NMC experience online, including video-on-demand performances, made-in-Canada stories, and highly entertaining educational content, visit amplify.nmc.ca.
 

Lola Young Announces First-Ever North American Headline Tour

Eric Alper
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Lola Young Announces First-Ever North American Headline Tour

On the heels of her performance at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Ivor Novello’s Rising Star Award winner and Brit-nominated South London singer / songwriter Lola Young announces her headline North American tour slated for this November and December. The 17-date run will see Lola bring her powerhouse vocals to Toronto, New York City, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Vancouver and Seattle, before wrapping up in Los Angeles. Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 6th at 10am local time.

Since its release, Lola’s latest single “One Thing,” which arrived with a Dave Meyers-directed video, has garnered millions of views and streams as well as praise from the likes of Rolling Stone, PAPER Magazine and Billboard, who described the track as “a slinky sex jam that showcases Young’s ability to oscillate between commanding and yearning.”

Boasting over 1 billion all-time streams globally across her catalog of releases, Lola Young continues to achieve tremendous success. Her platinum-certified #1 single “Messy,” which The New York Times described as “one of the most legitimately viral and popular songs of 2025” from her acclaimed 2024 album, This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway, recently hit #1 on the Billboard Pop Airplay chart, #1 at Hot Adult Contemporary, #1 on the Alternative Rock Billboard chart as well as reaching the upper regions of the Billboard Hot 100. Lola Young is the first female artist to have a debut single go #1 at both Pop and Alternative since Lorde’s “Royals.” “Messy” also held the top spot in the UK for four consecutive weeks, making Lola one of only two British female artists to reach #1 in the UK Singles Chart within the last year.

This April, Lola made her debut performance at the iconic Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, where she premiered “One Thing,” and was nominated for an American Music Award for Social Song of the Year for “Messy.” Additionally, Lola received 3 nominations at this year’s Ivor Novello awards and won the Rising Star Award following her “Best Pop Act” nomination at this year’s BRIT Awards. Lola was also named as a Future 25 artist with Rolling Stone, performed her track “Conceited” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, spoke with NPR about her breakout and sat with The Los Angeles Times to discuss her rise and debut Coachella performance.

Lola has since collaborated with Tyler, The Creator (“Like Him”), and Lil Yachty (“Charlie”) and continues to make a global impact with her music and compelling personality. She will open for Billie Eilish in Paris during her Hit Me Hard and Soft headline tour before an exciting Summer festival run including Glastonbury and All Things Go in New York and Washington, D.C.

Upcoming Live Dates
* = headline show

6/4 – La Madeleine @ Brussels, Belgium*
6/5 – Georg-Elser-Halle @ Hamburg, Germany*
6/10 – Accor Arena @ Paris, France [Billie Eilish Support]
6/11 – Accor Arena @ Paris, France [Billie Eilish Support]
6/15 – Capital FM Summertime Ball @ London, UK
6/17 – Meltdown Festival @ London, UK
6/27 – Glastonbury @ Somerset, UK
7/3 – Open’er Festival @ Poland
7/4 – Rock Werchter @ Werchter, Belgium
7/5 – Roskilde Festival @ Roskilde, Denmark
7/17 – Gurtenfestival @ Bern, Switzerland
7/18 – Lollapalooza Paris @ Paris, France
8/7 – Øya Festival @ Oslo, Norway
8/9 – Way Out West Festival @ Gothenburg, Sweden
8/10 – Flow Festival @ Helsinki, Finland
8/14 – Paredes De Coura @ Paredes de Coura, Portugal
8/16 – MS Dockville @ Hamburg, Germany
8/17 – Lowlands Festival @ Biddinghuizen, The Netherlands
9/27 – All Things Go Festival @ Forest Hills, New York
9/28 – All Things Go Festival @ Columbia, MD

NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE TOUR

11/01 – Toronto, ON @ HISTORY
11/04 – Boston, MA @ Roadrunner
11/05 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
11/08 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia
11/09 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem
11/11 – Nashville, TN @ The Pinnacle
11/12 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
11/19 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
11/21 – Dallas, TX @ The Bomb Factory
11/24 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed
11/25 – St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre
11/28 – Denver, CO @ The Fillmore Auditorium
11/29 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union Event Center
12/01 – Vancouver, BC @ Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre
12/02 – Seattle, WA @ WAMU Theater at Lumen Field
12/04 – San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
12/06 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium

Jake Minch Announces ‘George’ Tour Across North America

Eric Alper
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Jake Minch Announces ‘George’ Tour Across North America

Rising singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Jake Minch confirms his North American headline tour today. Kicking off in August, the dates include stops at Brooklyn’s Baby’s All Right, Los Angeles’ Moroccan Lounge, Chicago’s Schubas Tavern, Toronto’s Velvet Underground and more.

Artist presale begins Wednesday, June 4 at 10 A.M. local time with tickets on sale to the public starting Friday, June 6at 10 A.M. local time. Visit shop.jakeminch.com/ for more information and see below for a complete list of dates.

The tour will see Jake performing songs from his highly anticipated debut album, George, set for release on July 11 via 2for2 projects/Mercury Records—pre-save/pre-order it HERE. Jake recently shared the first single from the album, “Fingers and Clothes”—listen HERE.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Jake Minch burst onto the scene in 2023 with his hit single “handgun” racking up 1.3 million views on the song’s initial taser and earning support from the likes of Noah Kahan, Lizzy McAlpine, Zach Bryan, Gracie Abrams, Fletcher and many more. Over the last few years, the 2for2 projects/Mercury Records artist has garnered a dedicated fanbase through his deeply personal lyrics on love, growing up and grief. Jake has toured the world over, sharing stages with the likes of The Head And The Heart, Jeremy Zucker, Ben Abraham, Holly Humberstone, Grace Enger and Sadie Jean.

Recorded and produced between Los Angeles and Connecticut by Minch and Tony Berg (Taylor Swift, Boygenius) with contribution from Mason Stoops (Lizzy McAlpine, Role Model), George finds the 22-year-old storyteller exploring grief, guilt and identity through the complexities in his personal relationships. Titled after Jake’s birth name, George captures the angst and discomfort of growing up and leaving home with a disarming vulnerability that traces the album’s 12 tracks.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ro-iMw4vwGw%3Fsi%3DSBjGuoQOmS37i5G5

JAKE MINCH LIVE
August 3—Constellation Room—Santa Ana, CA
August 4—Moroccan Lounge—Los Angeles, CA
August 5—Cafe Du Nord—San Francisco, CA
August 7—Madame Lou’s—Seattle, WA
August 9—Polaris Hall—Portland, OR
August 12—Lost Lake—Denver, CO
August 15—7th St Entry—Minneapolis, MN
August 18—Schubas Tavern—Chicago, IL
August 19—Cannery Hall—Nashville, TN
August 20—Vinyl—Atlanta, GA
August 22—Songbyrd—Washington, D.C.
August 23—The Lounge at World Cafe—Philadelphia, PA
August 25—Velvet Underground—Toronto, ON
August 27—The Middle East – Sonia—Cambridge, MA
August 28—Baby’s All Right—Brooklyn, NY

Lukas Nelson Honored With Rob Wasserman Memorial Ambassador Award by Music Heals International and Gibson Gives

Eric Alper
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Lukas Nelson Honored With Rob Wasserman Memorial Ambassador Award by Music Heals International and Gibson Gives

Music Heals International (MHI) whose global mission brings music and musicians to children in need to rebuild communities and inspire resilience and creativity, has announced the first-ever annual recipient for the MHI Rob Wasserman Memorial Ambassador Award in partnership with Gibson Gives, the philanthropic division of Gibson, the iconic global instrument brand. MHI is honored to recognize acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician Lukas Nelson whose commitment to music and its healing power beautifully reflects the spirit of this award at this inaugural event. This one-night-only, intimate event features a special live music performance from Lukas Nelson and Friends, including Paul Beaubrun from Arcade Fire, and more, on Wednesday, June 18 from 7:00pm-9:30pm at the Gibson Garage Nashville located at 209 10th Ave S, Suite 209 in downtown Nashville, TN. All proceeds from the event will benefit Music Heals International; tickets for the Lukas Nelson event are limited and on sale now HERE.

“Music Heals International is proud to honor Lukas for his incredible contributions to our work and mission over the past decade by presenting him with the first-ever Rob Wasserman Memorial Ambassador Award, alongside our wonderful partner, Gibson Gives” says Sara Wasserman, Founder and Executive Director, MHI. “This award is especially meaningful-not only does it celebrate Lukas as an extraordinary artist and musician whose gifts uplift the world, but it also honors the enduring legacy of my father, which continues to live on through the work of MHI.”

“Gibson Gives is proud to support the remarkable programs and mission of Music Heals International,” adds Erica Krusen, Global Executive Director of Gibson Gives. “We are especially excited to honor Gibson artist, Lukas Nelson with the inaugural Rob Wasserman Memorial Ambassador Award at our Gibson Garage in Nashville–celebrating not only his artistry, but the profound impact he and Music Heals International continue to make through the power of music.”

Following Haiti’s devastating earthquake songwriter in 2010, Music Heals International Founder and Executive Director, Sara Wasserman began volunteering in the country through J/P Haitian Relief Organization, now CORE -. After seeing the unmistakable impact of music as a tool to help children cope and find joy after this traumatic uprooting, Sara started Music Heals International as a way to bring music education to the children of Delmas 32 and communities beyond.

As a singer, recording artist, and producer, music has always been an important part of Sara Wasserman’s life. The daughter of GRAMMY®-winning bassist Rob Wasserman, she first began performing on tour with her father and Bob Weir’s band, RatDog. This was followed by solo tours of the U.S. and Europe and the release of her debut album Solid Ground, which featured collaborations with Aaron Neville, Lou Reed, Christian McBride, Stephen Perkins, Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman. Sara joined the Board of Directors of the Peruvian children’s orphanage Casa de Milagros in 2007 and produced a series of fundraising concerts, featuring many of the artists with whom she has collaborated. She also served on the host committee in 2013 and 2014 for Sean Penn & Friends Help Haiti Home Gala. Her passion for music and helping children build better lives led her to volunteer in Haiti with J/P Haitian Relief Organization (J/P HRO) in 2012 and ultimately launch Music Heals International in partnership with CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), and Music Will.

The leading global guitar brand, Gibson continues to shape the sounds of generations of musicians across the globe. Gibson supports the global music community through its philanthropic division, Gibson Gives. The mission of Gibson Gives is to support non-profit organizations worldwide in their efforts to advance musicians, youth-focused education, music, and health and wellness initiatives. 100% of donations to Gibson Gives go towards giving the gift of music.

All proceeds from the event will benefit Music Heals International; tickets for the Lukas Nelson event are limited and on sale now HERE. 

GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Lukas Nelson has become one of the most respected voices in music today. Poised for a landmark year, Nelson will release his anticipated new album, American Romance, on June 20— his first solo project and first in partnership with Sony Music Nashville. Produced by GRAMMY Award-winner Shooter Jennings (Brandi Carlile, Tanya Tucker), American Romance cements Nelson as a singular artist, as he showcases his songwriting dexterity and country-blended sound in a way that feels both familiar and new.

Throughout his esteemed career, Nelson has also established himself as a highly sought-after collaborator both in the studio and on the stage, having recently joined forces with The Travelin’ McCourys, to arrange and perform a bluegrass-inspired rendition of Adele’s iconic hit, “Someone Like You,” which featured Sierra Ferrell. Teaming up with rising stars and music veterans alike, Nelson has also worked with Lainey Wilson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Ernest, Miranda Lambert/Pistol Annies and more. He also recently performed at the MusiCares 2025 Person of the Year Gala, where he honored the Grateful Dead by performing “It Must Have Been the Roses” with Ferrell.

Known for his captivating live performances, Nelson has sold out countless headline shows and been featured at renowned festivals such as Stagecoach, Ohana Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, and Farm Aid, in addition to multiple appearances on late night shows including Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Additionally, Nelson co-produced the music for the acclaimed 2018 film A Star is Born, in which he also appeared. The soundtrack won a Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and a BAFTA Award for Best Original Music.

Pre-order American Romance, the new album from Lukas Nelson, out June 20 on Sony Music Nashville: HERE.

Africa Express Announces Album ‘Bahidorá’ Featuring Damon Albarn, Bootie Brown, Fatoumata Diawara, Nick Zinner & More

Eric Alper
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Africa Express Announces Album ‘Bahidorá’ Featuring Damon Albarn, Bootie Brown, Fatoumata Diawara, Nick Zinner & More

Globally acclaimed music phenomenon Africa Express is sharing two new singles in celebration of their highly anticipated forthcoming studio album, Africa Express presents… Bahidorá (due July 11 via World Circuit Records). Stream/share “Soledad,” featuring Damon Albarn, Luisa Almaguer, Nick Zinner, Seye Adelekan, Joan as Police Woman and the Mexican Institute of Sound, and “Otim Hop,” featuring Otim Alpha, Bootie Brown, K.O.G. and Tom Excell, HERE.

“Soledad” is a stunning, cinematic duet sung in Spanish by Damon Albarn and Luisa Almaguer—a melancholic and beautiful track with mournful lyrics that intone “Soledad soledad soledad sin fin” (“Loneliness, loneliness, endless loneliness”). It is accompanied by “Otim Hop,” a cool slice of laid-back hip-hop, with Bootie Brown’s slick tale of a hustle spliced with Ugandan Afrofuturist Otim Alpha’s autobiographical lyrics about “big man running trying to escape poverty.”

Mexican singer-songwriter and trans-community advocate Luisa Almaguer notes, “ ‘Soledad’ and Africa Express are both symbolic and material examples of reparation for the historical debt that whiteness and the mainstream owe to racialized and independent artists around the world. It makes me very happy to be part of this; it still feels like a dream to me. It’s a beautiful glitch in the Matrix.”

Damon Albarn says, “Luisa possesses one of the most unique and enchanting voices I have ever heard. It’s a real honor to accompany her on this piece of music,” while Marco Carion and Camilo Lara of the Mexican Institute of Sound add, “We spent a week in magical Bahidorá and this is the result—our rendition of the Mexican bolero in the voices of Luisa and Damon. ‘Soledad’ speaks of loneliness, but through the collaboration with Luisa, Damon, Camilo, Seye, Nick and Joan, that loneliness turned into a beautiful sense of union. We are tremendously proud of ‘Soledad.’ It was an honor and a privilege to collaborate with such incredible musicians.”

American rapper and songwriter Bootie Brown (The Pharcyde) goes on, “Listening to the stories Otim was telling made me realize that you have to adapt to struggle. And when you think you have it hard, there is someone who can top your struggle very easily… The song was created when we were just sitting around after a long day, and it was time to pack to get ready for the ride to the airport. Magic man Otim had an idea, and we all came together for one last effort.”

Recorded in Mexico, Africa Express Presents… Bahidorá will be available digitally as well as in double CD and double gatefold vinyl LP formats; pre-order/pre-save the record HERE.

Africa Express went to the Americas for the first time in 2024 to headline the Mexican festival Bahidorá—a trip that saw an extraordinary group of musicians, singers and DJs from around the world come together to rehearse, perform and write new music ahead of an epic five-hour show on the banks of the ancient springs of Bahidorá. Afterwards, they stayed on to record together in field studios, tents and hotel rooms. The result is this remarkable collection of 21 tracks, the project’s sixth album and first since 2019’s Africa Express presents… Egoli, which was recorded in Johannesburg.

An album like no other, Africa Express presents… Bahidorá is a joyful and mind-blowing sonic trip which distills the joy of a musical adventure in Mexico into 21 extraordinary songs that are perfect for our times. Featuring artists from four continents but with roots firmly planted in Mexico, it entwines rich musical traditions ranging from cumbia, hip-hop and kuduro through to soul, salsa and the sweetest pop.

Africa Express is an adventure and a journey, always evolving and exploring fresh musical boundaries. It is based on respect and seeks to promote a simple concept: that human beings are stronger when we collaborate, when we communicate openly and when we accept that we all have something to say. It is about breaking down barriers with artists from different nations, genders, generations and musical genres, joining forces in a display of unity. The idea is perfectly expressed by the eclecticism, spirit and sounds of Africa Express presents… Bahidorá.

Africa Express will hit the road this summer for a run of dates across Europe, including the Roskilde Festival on July 6 and Barcelona’s Cruïlla Festival on July 11. See below for a list of tour dates.

ABOUT AFRICA EXPRESS
Africa Express started in 2006 in Mali, connecting local stars Toumani Diabaté, Bassekou Kouyaté and Amadou & Mariam with visiting artists including Martha Wainwright, Fatboy Slim and co-founder Damon Albarn. Now it is a globally known project, yet it never loses its capacity to surprise, whether live or on record. It has invited Western artists to countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Mali; staged collaborative concerts lasting up to seven hours from Liverpool to Lagos; taken a train filled with musicians around Britain to mark the London Olympics; re-formed a Syrian orchestra divided by civil war; and recorded the first African interpretation of Terry Riley’s minimalist classic “In C.” Participating artists have included Baaba Maal, Blur, Charli XCX, Faia Younan, Femi Kuti, Flea, Franz Ferdinand, Kano, Oumou Sangaré, Paul McCartney, Paul Weller, Rachid Taha, Rokia Traoré and Tony Allen, among many others.

TRACK LIST
AFRICA EXPRESS PRESENTS… BAHIDORÁ
1. Soledad ft. Damon Albarn, Luisa Almaguer, Nick Zinner, Seye Adelekan,
Joan As Police Woman, Mexican Institute of Sound
2. Otim Hop ft. Otim Alpha, Bootie Brown, K.O.G., Tom Excell
3. Mi Lado ft. Alansito Vega, Poté, Mare Advertencia
4. Seya ft. Onipa, Fatoumata Diawara, Abou Diarra, Mélissa Hié, Ophélia Hié
5. Tayhana ft. Tayhana, Otim Alpha, La Bruja de Texcoco
6. Kuduro ft. Fatoumata Diawara, Moonchild Sanelly, Tom Excell
7. Defiant Ones ft. Son Rompe Pera, M.anifest, Ophélia Hié,
Mélissa Hié, Mexican Institute of Sound
8. Raise A Glass ft Django Django, Mare Advertencia, Seye Adelekan
9. Ofrenda de Sangre ft. Luisa Almaguer, Mare Advertencia, Alansito Vega
10. Chucha ft. Son Rompe Pera, Joan As Police Woman, Otim Alpha,
Abou Diarra, Ophélia Hié, Mélissa Hié, Mexican Institute of Sound
11. Quisiera ft. Luisa Almaguer, Alansito Vega, Nick Zinner, Joan As Police Woman
12. The Sky Above You ft. Seye Adelekan, Luisa Almaguer, Joan As Police Woman,
Nick Zinner, Imarhan, Damon Albarn
13. Dorhan Oullhin (What The Heart Desires) ft. Imarhan, Damon Albarn
14. El Niño ft. Eme Malafe, Los Pream, Mélissa Hié, Ophélia Hié,
Joan As Police Woman, Marco Carrion, Alansito Vega
15. Invocation ft. Onipa, Jupiter Bokondji, Otim Alpha, Damon Albarn,
Joan As Police Woman
16. Hacernos Así ft. Luisa Almaguer, Damon Albarn, Seye Adelekan, Nick Zinner,
Joan As Police Woman, Mexican Institute of Sound
17. Frenemies ft. Hak Baker, Bonobo, Damon Albarn, Otim Alpha,
Mélissa Hié, Ophélia Hié
18. Kelegusta ft. Tayhana, Otim Alpha, La Bruja de Texcoco
19. El Diablo y La Bruja ft. La Bruja de Texcoco, Los Pream
20. Pánico (Cuelga al DJ) ft. Mexican Institue of Sound, Damon Albarn,
Los Pream, Nick Zinner, Montana Kinunu Ntunu
21. Adios Amigos ft. Baba Sissoko, Luisa Almaguer, Joan As Police Woman,
Abou Diarra, Mélissa Hié, Ophélia Hié, Yendé Balamba

TOUR DATES
July 5—Roskilde, DK—Roskilde Festival
July 6—Budapest, HU—Müpa
July 8—Berlin, DE—Huxleys
July 9—Hamburg, DE—Elbphilharmonie

The Imaginaries Announce Sophomore Album ‘Fever’ Out August 22, Featuring Vince Gill, Joe Bonamassa & Ariel Posen

Eric Alper
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The Imaginaries Announce Sophomore Album ‘Fever’ Out August 22, Featuring Vince Gill, Joe Bonamassa & Ariel Posen

Americana duo The Imaginaries—husband-and-wife team Maggie McClure and Shane Henry—have announced their highly anticipated sophomore album, Fever, due out August 22nd. The Oklahoma-based duo’s latest offering from the record, a resilient, harmony-soaked country-leaning ballad titled “Little By Little,” is available everywhere now.

 The fresh single gives fans a taste of what’s to come on Fever, a bold, soul-stirring album filled with gritty blues-rock riffs, shimmering pop-Americana melodies, and a spirit of defiant hope. “Little By Little” encapsulates the couple’s shared journey as life partners and musical collaborators, with rich vocal interlace and lyrics that speak to staying the course despite uncertainty: “Little by little and inch by inch / We’re never giving up, gonna ride the wave / You and me baby gonna get there someday.”

 “This new album is about being on the other side of struggle,” Maggie shares. “It’s about breakthrough—not that we have it all figured out!” Shane adds, “There are a lot of hopeful stories on this album. We want to put smiles on people’s faces.”

The 12-track collection, recorded in the legendary musical haven of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, features dazzling guest guitar solos from Vince Gill, Joe Bonamassa, and Ariel Posen, and showcases the full spectrum of the duo’s talents. With Maggie’s intimate lyricism and piano-led storytelling paired with Shane’s electrifying guitar work and blues-rooted swagger, The Imaginaries strike a rare balance between vulnerability and power—drawing on influences from Tom Petty, Bonnie Raitt, Fleetwood Mac, and The Civil Wars while building a sound uniquely their own.

Their path to this moment has been anything but conventional. Maggie and Shane met when she opened for him at a show in Oklahoma. They fell in love, married in 2011, and moved to Los Angeles, where they shared a tiny apartment while pursuing their solo careers. It was during that lean season—marked by scrappy gigs, late nights, and big dreams—that the idea for The Imaginaries was born. The name came to Shane in a dream, offering a beacon of creative ambition in the middle of hard times.

Their debut self-titled album established the foundation, but Fever is their defining artistic statement. Returning to Muscle Shoals—a place they now consider sacred ground—they recorded with a powerhouse lineup that includes first and second-generation Swampers, whose resumes span icons like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Paul Simon, Gregg Allman, Jason Isbell, and more. That rich musical lineage threads throughout Fever, grounding its personal stories in a timeless sonic tradition.

Outside the studio, The Imaginaries have quietly built one of the most impressive independent portfolios in Americana today. With 75+ sync placements in film, TV, and ads, they wrote/produced the soundtrack for and starred in the Samuel Goldwyn feature A Cowgirl’s Song, performed a licensed song on screen in the Dennis Quaid biopic Reagan, have two songs featured in Netflix’s Mending the Line, and contributed multiple original tracks to the forthcoming film The One, in which they also perform a song on camera. Maggie is also an accomplished music supervisor, while Shane co-founded boutique guitar pedal company Westerlund Audio—ventures that help sustain their creative freedom and vision.

 Over the years, they’ve shared stages with Judy Collins, John Waite, Sixpence None The Richer, and more, and were hand-picked to open for the Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Tour before the pandemic halted plans. Their music and story have been spotlighted in American Songwriter, Deadline, Guitar Player, and HuffPost, among others.

 To celebrate the release of Fever, The Imaginaries will hit the road for a full slate of summer and fall tour dates. Highlights include appearances at Texas Music Revolution, deadCenter Film Festival, and Kimbro’s Pickin’ Parlor, as well as headline dates across Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, Tennessee, California, and Colorado. Their album release shows will take place on August 22nd at Hotel Café in Hollywood and September 5th at Beam Live in OKC, with additional performances planned throughout 2025 and a European tour set for 2026.

The Imaginaries – Wheels to the Pavement 2025 Tour Dates (More TBA)
Saturday, May 31 – Stockyards Rodeo Cinema – Oklahoma City, OK*
Saturday, June 7 – Texas Music Revolution – McKinney, TX
Friday, June 13 – deadCenter Film Festival 2025 – Oklahoma City, OK
Saturday, June 21 – Heard on Hurd – Edmond, OK
Thursday, July 3 – Kimbro’s Pickin’ Parlor – Franklin, TN
Saturday, July 5 – Gray’s on Main – Franklin, TN
Saturday, July 12 – The Mystic Pub – Jenks, OK
Saturday, July 26 – Abendigo’s – Hochatown, OK
Monday, August 18 – High Plains Public Radio (Live Stream) – Amarillo, TX^
Friday, August 22 – Album Release Show @ Hotel Café – Hollywood, CA
Friday, August 29 – Jim and Linda Lee Performing Arts Center – Prescott, AZ
Sunday, August 31 – The Lion’s Den – Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ
Tuesday, September 2 – Stone Cottage Studios – Boulder, CO
Friday, September 5 – Hometown Release Show @ Beam Live – Oklahoma City, OK
Saturday, September 6 – The Colony – Tulsa, OK
Thursday, September 11 – Kimbro’s Pickin’ Parlor – Franklin, TN
Thursday, September 25 – Oklahoma’s Listening Room – Cushing, OK
Friday, October 3 – Firehouse Gastro Park – Grand Prairie, TX
Saturday, October 4 – The Cicada (w/ The Vintage Yell) – Fort Worth, TX
 
*Bob Dylan tribute event
^Special live stream performance

Mádé Kuti Announces Bold New Album ‘Chapter 1: Where Does Happiness Come From?’ Out July 25

Eric Alper
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Mádé Kuti Announces Bold New Album ‘Chapter 1: Where Does Happiness Come From?’ Out July 25

GRAMMY Award-nominated multi-instrumentalist, composer, and performer Mádé Kuti has announced his Eeagerly awaited standalone debut album, Chapter 1: Where Does Happiness Come From?, arriving everywhere via LegacyPlus Records on Friday, July 25. Pre-orders/Pre-Saves are available now.

Chapter 1: Where Does Happiness Come From? sees Mádé Kuti – the son of Afrobeat legend Femi Kuti – continuing to push Afrobeat forward towards the next generation, blurring the lines of genre as he fuses elements of jazz, psychedelia, and rock, pulling them all into his mesmerizing orbit. The album is heralded by today’s premiere of “Life As We Know It,” an urgent and groove-laden ode to keeping the focus led by swirling brass and cyclical beats.

“I was driving with my wife in the car thinking about how funny life’s excesses can be,” says Mádé Kuti. “I asked her to play a rhythmic pattern on the passenger side dashboard as I started writing the song in my head, and I thoroughly enjoyed the direction it took. The result is a lively and groovy song with satirical lyrics about how easily we can lose ourselves in our vices. The second verse reflects on this theme and aims towards growth and progress.”

Mádé Kuti has been making waves in the music scene with his unique sound and style since the age of 8, when he began playing bass guitar and saxophone in his father’s band, The Positive Force. A graduate of London’s Trinity Laban Conservatoire for Music and Dance, where he studied composition, Kuti showcased his own exceptional skills by playing all instruments on his 2021 debut album, For(e)ward, released as part of the Legacy + double-album alongside his father’s Stop the Hate. The collection was met by worldwide applause, earning a prestigious GRAMMY® Award nomination for “Best Global Album” alongside plaudits from the likes of The Guardian, MOJO, Uncut, NME, Loud and Quiet, The Observer, Record Collector, The Wire, The Independent, The Line of Best Fit, DJ Mag, and more. 

Kuti formed his band, The Movement, that same year and has since performed at prestigious venues and festivals around the world, including Paris, France’s Philharmonie de Paris, Zanzibar’s annual Sauti Za Busara festival, and South Africa’s African Energy Week. Along with his own dynamic work, Kuti has joined forces with a number of diverse fellow artists for notable collaborations including Coldplay’s acclaimed “Arabesque” (as well a memorable live performance at 2024’s Glastonbury Festival), PJ Morton’s “Who You Are,” and Morgan Heritage’s “I’ll Be There,” to name only a few.

Now, with the bold and introspective Chapter 1: Where Does Happiness Come From?, Mádé Kuti continues to evolve as a reflective and radical voice in modern Afrobeat, exploring the true meaning of happiness in a world shaped by inequality, misinformation, and cultural disconnection with his signature blend of Afrobeat, jazz, alternative compositional techniques, and deeply personal lyricism. Across the project, Kuti fuses tradition and experimentation to question, reflect, and challenge what we often accept as success or progress, unpacking the societal contradictions we all live with – mansions beside homelessness, comfort built on silence, and the myth that material wealth equals happiness. Kuti doesn’t preach; he probes. At its heart, the album is not just a critique – it is a call. A call for togetherness, shared responsibility, and the courage to ask better questions about who we are and what kind of world we want to build. 

Among its many thought-provoking highlights, Chapter 1: Where Does Happiness Come From? Includes the recently premiered “I Won’t Run Away,” a seven-minute epic rich in infectious beats and unforgettable toplines available everywhere now, accompanied by an official lyric visualizer streaming now on YouTube.

“‘I Won’t Run Away’ is entirely about individual growth and enlightenment,” says Made Kuti. “It encourages everyone to face their fears and weaknesses head on with the hope that one day they’ll overcome them and walk a path they can be proud of. This in turn of course results in everyone becoming a more equipped and positive contributor to their environment, their families, their communities, and the world at large.”

Release Date: Friday, July 25, 2025Release Date: Friday, July 25, 2025 

Tracklist:

Take It All In Before The Lights Go Out

Find My Way

Pray

Won Na Pa

Life As We Know It

Our Own

Wait And See

You Can’t Hide

Oya

I Won’t Run Away

My Voice

Story

After The Tears Flow

Watchhouse Releases New Album ‘Rituals,’ Announces Expansive 2025 Tour

Eric Alper
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0
Watchhouse Releases New Album ‘Rituals,’ Announces Expansive 2025 Tour

Rituals, the long-awaited new studio album from North Carolina duo Watchhouse (Andrew Marlin & Emily Frantz), is officially out now via Tiptoe Tiger Music / Thirty Tigers. Co-produced with Ryan Gustafson (The Dead Tongues), the 11-track collection marks Watchhouse’s first album of entirely new, original songs since their acclaimed 2021 self-titled release, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass chart and earned praise from Rolling Stone, NPR Music, Mojo, American Songwriter, and more.

With Rituals, Watchhouse invites listeners into a world shaped by small moments and big transformations. The album glows with the quiet beauty of daily life — lullabies at dawn, unspoken gestures, and the grounding rhythm of routine – all while balancing a subtle darkness. The result is a gently radiant meditation on change, love, and the spaces in between. 

Woven with the duo’s signature acoustic textures, Rituals blends layered arrangements and soothing vocal harmonies into an album that is as intimate as it is expansive — a sonic embrace in uncertain times.

Listen to Rituals in its entirety HERE.

The duo recently performed the album’s lead single “All Around You” on The Kelly Clarkson Show. Watch the intimate performance HERE.

What began over a decade ago in the quiet corners of North Carolina coffee shops has blossomed into one of the most respected voices in modern folk. From sold-out shows at Red Rocks and The Ryman to hundreds of millions of streams, Watchhouse continues to evolve with each new chapter. Rituals is both a continuation and a new beginning — a poetic soundtrack for life’s shifting seasons.

Watchhouse is currently on tour in support of Rituals, with performances scheduled across the U.S. throughout 2025. Highlights include dates supporting The Avett Brothers this weekend, along with appearances at major festivals like MerleFest, Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots, and Iron Blossom Music Festival. Their headline tour continues this summer with stops in Chicago, Seattle, New York City, Boston, Nashville, Atlanta, and more. Full dates and ticket info can be found at https://watchhouseband.com.

Watchhouse 2025 Tour Dates

May 31 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap *

June 5 – Nashville, TN – Grimey’s In-Store 

June 14 – St. Paul, MN – Palace Theatre

June 15 – Maquoketa, IA – Codfish Hollow Barnstormers

June 17 – Kalamazoo, MI – Bell’s Eclectic Cafe

June 18 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee

June 19 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall

June 20 – Indianapolis, IN – Rock the Ruins

June 21 – Nelsonville, OH – Nelsonville Music Festival

June 22 – Louisville, KY – Old Forester’s Paristown Hall

July 11 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheater *

July 12 – Cheyenne, WY – The Lincoln

July 13 – Salt Lake City, UT – Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre

July 14 – Jackson, WY – Center for the Arts

July 16 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre

July 17 – Jacksonville, OR – Britt Festival Pavilion

July 18 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall

July 19 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall

July 20 – Vancouver, Canada – Vancouver Folk Music Festival

August 9 – Lyons, CO – Rocky Mountain Folks Festival

August 10 – Colorado Springs, CO – Pikes Peak Center

August 12 – Toronto, ON – The Concert Hall

August 13 – Buffalo, NY – Asbury Hall

August 14 – Homer, NY – Center for the Arts of Homer

August 15 – Portland, ME – State Theatre

August 16 – Manchester, VT – Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots

August 18 – Charlton, MA – The Pavilion at Tree House Brewing

August 29 – Charleston, SC – The Refinery Charleston

August 30 – Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

September 6 – Evanston, IL – Evanston Folk Festival

September 21 – Richmond, VA – Iron Blossom Music Festival

October 2 – Del Mar, CA – The Sound at Del Mar

October 3 – Los Angeles, CA – The Ford

October 11 – Charlotte, NC – The Amp Ballantyne

October 15 – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre

October 16 – Boston, MA – Royale

October 17 – New York, NY – Webster Hall

October 19 – Washington D.C. – 9:30 Club

November 7 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle

November 8 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium

November 21 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel

November 22 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel

November 23 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre

* supporting The Avett Brothers 

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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